Professor Lisa Keller Serves as Historical Consultant to Documentary THE AUTOMAT

Professor of History Lisa Keller served as a historical consultant to the new documentary The Automat, produced and directed by Lisa Hurwitz. The documentary details the rich history of New York’s largest restaurant chain.

The Automat (aka Horn & Hardart) revolutionized American dining a century ago, long before there was fast food or hipster coffee shops. An eclectic mix of New Yorkers inserted nickels into slots, and slices of lemon meringue pie, mac & cheese, baked beans, and creamed spinach magically appeared from a grid of gleaming chrome windows. The film uses extensive archival footage, movies, and interviews with Automat devotees such as Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and General Colin Powell.

Keller is executive editor of the Encyclopedia of New York City (2nd Edition, Dec. 2010). She is the author of the award-winning book Triumph of Order: Democracy and Public Space in New York & London. She is currently writing a book about literary New York.

Discounted Ticket to this showing can purchased at the Film Forum website, using discount code: SUNYPURCHASE  The code applies for two, $11 tickets.